566 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTOKT r 



nors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of 

 them that do well :' in this we hope to be his humble and peaceful subjects. Although we 

 cannot for conscience sake join with many of our fellow-mortals in complimentary customs of 

 man, neither in taking up the sword in order to shed human blood — ^for the Scripture saith that 

 ' it is righteousness that exalteth a nation, but sin Is a reproach to any people '■ — we fisel con- 

 cerned for thy welfare and the prosperity of the province, hoping thy administration may be 

 such as to be a terror to the evil-minded and a pleasure to them that do well :■ then will the 

 province flourish and prosper under thy direction ; which is the earnest desire and prayer of 

 thy sincere friends- — Read and approved in Yonge Street monthly meeting, held the ISth day 

 of the ninth month, 1S06. Timothy Rogers and Amos Armitage are appointed to attend on the 

 governor therewith. Signed by order of the said meeting, Nathaniel Pearson, clerk." 



To this address, characteristic alike in the peculiar syntax of its sentences and in the well- 

 meant platitudes to which it gives expression, his Excellency was' pleased to return the 

 following answer ; " I return you my thanks for your dutiful address and for your good wishes 

 for my welfare and prosperity of this province. I have no doubt of your proving peaceful and 

 good subjects to bis majesty, as well as industrious and respectable members of society. I 

 shall at all times be happy to afford to such persons my countenance and support. Francis 

 Gore, Lieut.-Grovernor. Government House, York, Upper Canada, 30th Sep., 1806." 



The Timothy Rogers here named bore a leading part in the first establishmeTit of the Quaker 

 settlement. He and, Jaeab Lundy were the two original managers of its afiairs. On the 

 arrival of Governor Peter Hunter, predecessor to Gov. Gore, Timothy Rogers and Jacob Lundy 

 with a deputation from the settlement, came into town to complain to him of the delay whioB 

 they and their co-religionists had experienced in obtaining the patents for their lands. 



Governor Hunte-r, v/ho was also Commander-in-Chief and a Lieut. -General in the army,, 

 received them in the garrison : and after hearing how on coming to York on former occasions 

 they had been sent about from one office to another for a reply to their inquiries about the 

 patents, he requested them to come to him again the next day at noon. Orders were the same 

 instant despatched to Mr; D. "W. Smith, the Surveyor-General, to Mr. Small, Clerk of the 

 Executive Council, to Mr. Burns, Clerk of the Crown, and to Mr. Jarvis, Secretaiy and Regis- 

 trar of the Province (all of whom it appeared at one time or amother had failed to reply 

 satisfactorily to the QMaRers), to wait at the same hour on the Lieut. -Governor, bringing with 

 them, each respectively, such papers and memoranda as might be in their possession, having 

 relation to patents for lands in Whitchurch and King. 



Governor Hunter had a reputation for considerable severity of character ; and all function- 

 aries, from the judge on the bench to the humblest employ^, held office in those days very 

 literally during pleasure. 



" These gentlemen complain,"— the personages above enumerated having assembled together 

 with the deputation from Yonge Street — " These gentlemen complain," the Governor said, 

 pointing to the Quakers, "■' that they cannot g'et their patents." 



Each of the oificial personages present offered in succession some indistinct observations ; 

 expressive it would seem of a degree of regret, and hinting exculpatory reasons, so far as- he 

 individually was concerned. 



On closer interrogation, one thing however came out very clear, that the order for the patents 

 was more than twelve months'' old. 



At length the onus of blame seemed to settle down on the head of the Secretary and Regis- 

 trar, Mr. Jarvis, who could only say that really the pressure of business in his office was so 

 great that he had been absolutely unable, up to the present raomerrt, to get ready the particular 

 patents referred to. 



" Sir !" was the Governor's immediate rejoinder, " if they are not forthcomirtg, every one of 

 them, and placed in the hands of these gentlemen here in my presence at noon on Thursday 

 next (it was now Tuesday), by George ! Ill un-Jarvis you 1"— implying, as We suppose, a sum- 

 mary conge from office. 



It is needless to say that Mr. Rogers and his colleagues of the deputation carried back with 

 them to Whitchurch lively accounts of the vigour and rigour of the new Governor — as well a» 

 their patents. 



General Hunter was very peremptory in his dismissals occasionally. In a Gazette of July 16y 

 1S03, is to be seen an ominous announcement that the Governor is going, to be very strict witfe 



